Do you think of yourself as a musical 'artist'?

[SumOne]

The general consensus/cliche is that musicians are artists - creative, expressing themselves, communicating emotions n'all that. But is that what you think of yourself? Seems a bit pretentious to me! 

 

Perhaps I've got no soul or artistry, but the more I play music and learn about it the more I think of it as a process, a technical skill. 

 

Is being in an orchestra and sight reading artistic? Is playing a cover version with some embellishments? Is even playing some sort of free-form Jazz? After all, even that is mostly about applying technical skill and music theory. Is making original music? Usually that seems to very heavily rely of pre-existing musical formulas. 

 

I think there are some musicians that are genuine 'artists', people that really do something original that transcends technical skill and know how, that's only a small % of musicians though. 

[Dad3353]

13 minutes ago, SumOne said:

... Seems a bit pretentious to me! ...

 

I think that this is the nub of the issue. The interpretation, or understanding, of what the term 'artist' means to any one person is not necessarily in accordance with the dictionary definition, and has 'cultural' connotations. For my part, I would agree, generally, with the feeling of pretention when using the term, and have no great esteem for those that apply it too widely. Anyone can be taken to be an 'artist', whatever their 'skill' level, in whatever discipline, and there are many that do, indeed, claim the title, despite turning out what I would call 'rubbish', or worse. I have more esteem for 'craftsman' (OK, craftsperson, if you must..!), as that, to me, implies some mastery of the discipline in question. I'm rather wary of 'art' in general; this is simply my own notion, and I am quite happy to allow others to have a wider appreciation. There is no definitive, objective, way of determining what constitute an 'artist' except that offered by the dictionary, so, in that wide sense, most folk are 'artists' in one field or another. Does that give them (and I include myself...) any 'special' status..? I think not. 

[BigRedX]

When it comes to music I see myself first and foremost as a composer. I play musical instruments because it makes composition easier (for me) and I also like performing on stage so I need to be doing more than just composition within the musical projects I work on. So from that PoV I consider myself an artist. I have also been the main driving force when it comes to producing the visual aspects of many of the bands that I have been in whether that be just the graphic design of the posters, CD, record and cassette packaging or as far as the complete visual styling of the band and every aspect of how we present to our audience and the outside world. In that case again I consider myself to be an artist. On the few occasions where I have played in covers bands, my role has simply been to reproduce what is on the chosen recorded version of the songs in question. In this case I am simply a human playback mechanism, with nothing artistic or creative involved at all.

 

Similarly in my graphics day job I see myself as a technician. There can be some creativity, but mostly it is to take other people's original ideas and apply them to new products in the range or similar. I also ensure that the job will print properly and look as far as possible (given the print budget) as what was originally visualised. I don't consider myself an artist in this role. I don't want to get bogged down in arguing about designs for products I don't care about passionately enough. I'm happy to take the money and produce what my clients want.

[Franticsmurf]

I've never thought of myself as an artist but rather as a musician/bass player/guitarist. A bit like @SumOne and @Dad3353 above, I can't help feeling the term 'artist' a little pretentious but for me the pretention is when the title is self assigned. I would have no problem (in fact no opinion either way) if someone called me an artist but I wouldn't use the term myself to describe me. I agree the term gives no particularly special status, probably because as has also been said above, it is used so freely. There is no equivalent (as far as I know) to the differentiation between 'craftsman' and 'master craftsman'. 

[Linus27]

Maybe in its simplest for, music, acting, painting, performing, writing, photography etc. is a creative art and thus, one who does this is an artist. One who crafts things, for example builds, designs, repairs, constructs etc. is a craftsman.

Edited 6 hours ago by Linus27

[Lozz196]

I don`t. Although I`ve written a good many songs, most of which are on CDs/Vinyl/Streaming etc I see myself more as a musician/bassist than songwriter/artist. This possibly comes from never really being the primary songwriter in the bands I`ve been in.

[Cat Burrito]

I probably didn't but playing several instruments, co-writing and co-producing, I think I do more now. I know what people mean about it being a bit pretentious sounding, but it's less pretentious than a lot of the terminology in most day jobs these days! 

[neepheid]

I don't refer to myself as an artist.  P!ss artist, maybe...

 

If other people want to refer to me as an "artist", I won't correct them though

 

[SumOne]

58 minutes ago, Linus27 said:

Maybe in its simplest for, music, acting, painting, performing, writing, photography etc. is a creative art and thus, one who does this is an artist. One who crafts things, for example builds, designs, repairs, constructs etc. is a craftsman.

 

I suppose it just comes down to semantics but it is the amount of 'craft' or technical knowledge/training that many 'artists' have to have that got me thinking that it is often more about learning and applying a craft than being artistic. e.g. a Ballerina, no doubt it is a highly skilled thing to do and takes years of technical training, but when it comes down to it - how much is actual artistic expression, and how much is by applying what has been taught and doing as instructed? 

 

Me playing a cover version of a song on the Bass? I think that is almost entirely down to having spent the time to learn the craft of playing, I don't think I'm really adding anything particularly artistic. And even when I make up an original bassline -  I think I'm just applying knowledge of all the other basslines I've heard and played and applying some music theory and technical playing skill, but art - from the soul communicating my inner emotions?!?...I'm not so sure!  It's more 'minor key = sad' 'major key = happy' 'phrygian = exotic'!

Edited 5 hours ago by SumOne

[fretmeister]

Good question.

 

Music is a technical skill, certainly, but one that is used to create art.

I suppose when I'm playing my own compositions then I'm an artist, but perhaps not when playing other people's work.

But then again a performance can be art in itself even when the 'script' is written by someone other than the performer.

 

Not sure there's a definitive answer really.

[Sté]

54 minutes ago, Linus27 said:

Maybe in its simplest for, music, acting, painting, performing, writing, photography etc. is a creative art and thus, one who does this is an artist. One who crafts things, for example builds, designs, repairs, constructs etc. is a craftsman.

 

Agree. Music is an Art. To me everybody playing music is an artist and a musician, as i don't associate "values" or "status" in these words, so not feel it as pretentious. Remains me this question: Are you a player or a musician ? .. Even if playing cover note for note, we all have our own and unique way to play it, and we put our emotion in this playing. It's our artist part. We all are artist. And it's not a pride source for me, more a everyday happiness source. 

[binky_bass]

I see myself as a jerk with a bass. 

[mr4stringz]

An artist? I’m barely a bassist!

[miles'tone]

Good question @SumOne.

My day job is working as a TA in a primary school, and my take on the matter is that everyone is born an artist. Every little kid I see is an artist as soon as the paints and paper or drums and ukuleles come out.

Only a few of us refuse to stop.

Edited 4 hours ago by miles'tone

[itu]

I consider myself as a player. I would like to be a musician (like to be able to arrange and compose), if not an artist. The choices made earlier in my life prevent me from being a musician or more. 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I just like making a lot of noise.

[Cato]

I think I'm creative.

 

I definitely think describing myself as an 'artist' would be to raise people's expectations way too high though.

[Beedster]

No

[Grahambythesea]

I thought the term was ARTISTE 🤣

[Dad3353]

4 minutes ago, Grahambythesea said:

I thought the term was ARTISTE 🤣

 

Ponce. 

 

...

 

 

[Linus27]

I think my own view is I consider myself a Musician, if asked in what, then I would say a bassist. If I am writing music or basslines then I am being creative, if I am putting together a structure or how the song is to be played then I am arranging and if I am playing in front of people then I am performing but the over-arching title I would use is I am a musician.

[snorkie635]

Speaking of artists, I hear Tony Hart has died. ☹️

[Dad3353]

6 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

Speaking of artists, I hear Tony Hart has died. ☹️

 

Wrong rubrique. 

[Jackroadkill]

I'm more of a musical vandal than an artist.

[Leonard Smalls]

I most definitely see myself as an artist - in much the same way as my idol: